Puzzle section carrying device



Feb. 20, 1934.

A. J. LJEBL PUZZLE SECTION CARRYING DEVICE Filed April 21, 1933 Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to an improved puzzle section carrying device and is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with sections of the well-known jig-saw puzzles.

I One object of the invention is to provide a puzzle section carrying device which may be readily utilized for picking up the sections of a jig-saw puzzle so that they may be placed in their proper relative position without disarranging the portion of the puzzle already completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle section carrying device wherein means is employed for disengaging a puzzle section therefrom after said section has been properly located.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be of the utmost simplicity and which may be manufactured cheaply on a large scale.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved device in engagement with a section of a jig-saw puzzle,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of my improved device with the lower end portion thereof broken away and shown in section, the point employed being shown in engagement with a section of a jig-saw puzzle,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of my improved device with its lower end portion broken away and shown in section and showing the point retracted for freeing the section of the jig-saw puzzle therefrom,

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a slightly modified form of my invention, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the handle portion of my improved device which may be formed of any desired light weight material. The handle portion is circular in shape and is rounded off at its upper end, as indicated by the numeral 2. The lower end portion of the handle is tapered in diameter toward its lower end, as indicated by the numeral 3, and terminates in a stub end 4. Mounted in the stub end 4 and projecting downwardly is a preferably steel highly sharpened point 5. Formed in the handle portion, at the upper end of the tapered portion thereof, is an elongated slot 6.

Slidably mounted on the tapered portion 3 of the handle portion 1 is a tapered preferably metal knock-off sleeve 7 which is provided with a thickened portion 8 at its lower end and said thickened portion is formed with a relatively long guide opening 9 which slidably receives the lower end of the point therethrough. Formed on the knock-off sleeve 7, at its upper extremity, is an annular relatively thick collar 10 and carried by the collar 10 and adapted to engage in the elongated slot 6 is, a stud 11. The stud and slot will cooperate for limiting the knock-01f sleeve against longitudinal displacement from the 7 tapered lower end of the handle portion. The inclined wall of the knock-off sleeve will, of course, prevent upward displacement of the sleeve on the handle portion. The annular collar 10 will be of sufficientweight normallyto main- 7 tain the sleeve in downward position covering the point so that said point will be normally protected.

In use, when working a jig-saw puzzle and it is desired to shift a certain section to its 8 proper position, or to carry said section above the completed portion of the puzzle, with the object of searching for the proper position, the point 9 is pressed against the upper surface of the puzzle section and a gentle pressure is em- B ployed so that the point will be firmly anchored in the surface of the section. As this is done the knock-off sleeve is shifted upwardly. The puzzle section may then be lifted. After the section has been placed in its proper position and it is desired to free the point 9 from the surface of said section, the knock-01f sleeve is gently pushed downwardly so that its lower end will engage the surface of the section and its downward movement will free the point 9 from the section. It 5 is pointed out that, by employing my device, the sections of a jig-saw puzzle may be shifted about without danger of soiling and fraying them and also the sections may be placed in position without disarranging the portion of the puzzle al- 10 ready completed.

In Figure 5 of the drawing, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention which employs a' hollow barrel 12 having a removable cap 13 screwed into its upper end. The barrel 12 is formed at its lower end with a tapered portion 14 which is tapered toward its lower end and terminates in a stub end 15. Formed in the barrel 12, at the upper end of the tapered portion, are slots 16 which are oppositely disposed, 11

and extend through the walls of the barrel. Slidable on the tapered portion 14 of the barrel 12 is a knock-off sleeve 1'7 which is tapered toward its lower end and is provided with a relatively thick lower end portion 18 which is formed with an opening 19.

Carried in the tapered portion 14 and projecting downwardly is a preferably steel highly sharpened point 20. Formed on the knock-off sleeve 17, at its upper portion, is a straight thickened annular collar 21 which is adapted to surround the barrel and close the slot 16. Slidably mounted in the barrel 12 is a fork 22 which is provided with a manual engageable handle 23 which is supported by a shank 24 slidable through the upper end of the cap 13. Formed on the lower end portion of the tines of the fork are laterally presented oppositely disposed lugs 25 which are adapted to extend through the slot and are sunk into the annular collar 21. A slot 26 is formed in the lower end portion of the barrel 12, at right angles to the slot 16 and slidable in said slots is a guide stud 27. The guide stud will cooperate with the lugs 25 for preventing rotation of the knock-off sleeve, as well as firmly retaining said sleeve in position. The lugs serve to slidably connect the knock-off sleeve with the barrel and also, as they work in the slot 16, limit upward and downward movement of said sleeve on the barrel.

In the modified form, after a section of a jigsaw puzzle has been engaged by the point and it is desired to disengage said section from the point, this is done merely by gently pressing down on the handle 23 which will move the fork 22 downwardly and thus slide the knock-off sleeve downwardly for engaging the lower end of said sleeve with the face of the section and thereby disengaging said section from the point 20.

It will be seen that the modified form of my device is, aside from the above described diflferences, of the same general nature and will function in a like manner with the preferred form.

While I have described my device as being made of any suitable light weight material, I may make the device of brass which will be highly durable so that the device will not easily become broken. It is believed that my device will greatly aid in the working of jig-saw puzzles as a great deal of time will be saved and much less danger of disarranging the puzzle will be experienced.

My device should be exceedingly popular as the difficulty of placing the different sections in position, particularly in small puzzles, is wellknown.

It is believed that a reading of the above description will disclose that I have provided a simple and highly efilcient puzzle section supporting device.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the class described including a hollow barrel having a tapered lower end portion and provided with slots, a pin carried by the tapered lower end portion, a cap closing the upper end of said barrel, a knock-off sleeve slidable on said lowerend portion of the barrel and having athickened portion adapted to surround the pin, a'fork slidable within the barrel and having a handle provided with a shank extending through the cap, said fork having lugs projecting through the slots and into the knock-off sleeve whereby said knock-oil sleeve will be slidably connected with the barrel, said knock-off sleeve being adapted for downward sliding movement throughout a length equivalent to the length of the slot for disengaging an article carried by the pin.

2. A device of the class described including a handle portion having a tapered lower end portion, a pin carried by said tapered lower end, said handle portion being formed with an elongated slot, a tapered knock-off sleeve slidable on the tapered lower end portion and having an annular 105 collar, a stud carried by the collar and adapted to slidably engage in the slot, said stud and slot cooperating for slidably connecting the tapered knock-oil sleeve with the tapered lower end portion, said knock-off sleeve being shiftable downwardly by the weight of said collar for engaging a surface of an article and freeing said surface from the pin.

3. A device of the class described including a hollow barrel having a lower end portion provided with slots, a pin carried by said lower end portion, a knock-off sleeve slidable on said lower end portion of the barrel and being adapted to surround the pin, a fork slidable within the barrel and having a shank extending through the upper end of the barrel, said fork having means projecting through the slot and engageable with the knock-off sleeve whereby said knock-off sleeve will be slidably connected with the barrel and will be adapted for downward sliding movement for disengaging an article carried by the pin.

ALLAN J. LIEBL. [L.s.] 

